‘Don’t be frightened off by scaremongering’ say Tories

Councillor Andrew Cumpsty, leader of the Conservative Group on Reading Borough Council

Reading Conservatives are defending their policies on Sure Start centres against Labour criticism.

They say a Conservative government will keep Sure Start and will strengthen it through a universal Sure Start health visitor service providing support to families with children under five.

Conservatives will improve Sure Start by taking it back to its original purpose of early intervention, increasing its focus on the neediest families, and involving organisations with a track record in parenting interventions.

Conservatives say they will create a new kind of Sure Start Children’s Centre to replace failing existing provision which draws on the key principles behind their wider public service reform programme – practicality, independence and accountability.

Conservative plans would give parents the professional health visitor support they need in the crucial early years of their child’s life. They believe health visitors are also more effective at reaching out to the poorest and most vulnerable families.

Tories believe their plans for Sure Start will help existing centres in the work they are doing to support families and thereby give children the best start in life.

Councillor Andrew Cumpsty, leader of the Conservative Group on Reading Borough Council, said: “The Labour party is getting ever more desperate and resorting to scaremongering and the politics of fear. It is simply irresponsible to worry people yet further at a time when they have to deal with the financial crisis resulting from Labour’s economic mismanagement.

“It is especially shameful that parents and Sure Start staff are being worried and misled in this way.”

Cllr Cumpsty concluded: “I urge people not to be frightened by a Labour government that is trying to scare you into not opting for change.”